It’s a beautiful day for U2 fans everywhere as their long-awaited 3D concert movie opened in theaters nationwide this past weekend, and what a great movie it was. For a much cheaper price than one would pay for a terrible ticket in the back row of some arena, fans are given a front row seat that literally puts U2 front man and longtime political activist Bono in their laps for a fraction of the cost.

This movie takes concert films to a whole new level. Until now, whenever a band has put a concert on film, it has been done in the traditional 2D. Using 3D technologies, fans are invited to get up close and personal with Bono during the 2005 Vertigo Tour.

One minute, you feel as if you’re in the nose-bleed section in an overcrowded South American stadium, and the next thing youknow it’s as if you’re standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Bono.

For U2 fans, it is often hard-pressed to name all four members of the band, because Bono and David Howell Evans, known as The Edge, have always shared the spotlight. U23D focuses not just on those two, but also on the euphoric bass-guitar skills of Adam Clayton and the phenomenal beats that come from Larry Mullen Jr.’s drums.

Of course, like most things U2 does, this film has a definite undertone of the band’s activism, this time focusing on human rights. There is a portion of the concert that shows a statement from the United Nations on the huge arena screen where a list of basic human rights can be read. While this sort of thing may offend some people, it flows well with the concert and fits right in with the band’s style of music.

The bottom line is that fans of U2 and music in general should enjoy this film. This film is your ticket to seeing a band that has sold more than 150 million albums worldwide and has more Grammys than any other band.

4 out of 5 stars